Tillsonburg Public Library's Summer Reading Club begins next week
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Tillsonburg Public Library’s Summer Reading Club kicks off next week on Wednesday, June 24.
“Summer Reading Clubs are offered all over the country… and our program will be similar, but it’s also customized specifically for Tillsonburg,” said Becky Stark.
There are two components to the Summer Reading Club – reading and various summer events. All ages can participate in the Reading Club, beginning as young as 0-6, 7-12, as well as 12-15. The club also includes a 16-and-older group.
“For the 0-6 and 7-12, they can come in any day through the summer starting June 24th,” said Stark. “They can pick up a little package that has a ‘passport’ in it. That’s where they record the books they read in the summer.”
To encourage the kids to read over the summer, they are asking the children to return to the library after they finish each book and ‘report’ on the books.
“What they liked or didn’t like,” said Stark, noting it is not a written ‘book report’ common in schools. “Just tell us about the book, what was their favourite part… Each time they finish a book they can come in and tell us about it and each time they do, their name gets put into a weekly draw for prizes that have been donated by local businesses.”
With the younger children, said Stark, it’s more about reading ‘together’. Typically children begin reading in Grade 1, with some basic reading skills developed in Kindergarten.
“If parents are reading to the child, or do ‘picture reading’ together, then that counts.”
Teens and adults get a sheet they take home to record books they are reading. There will be a competition for both groups to see who can read the most by the end of the summer.
“We encourage them to come in and tell us about their progress, but if they want to wait until the last day and then show us their list, that’s okay too.
“We’ll also do a prize for the younger group for most books read.
For the adults, there will be a specific prize – all their overdue fines will be removed.
“And they’ll get a ticket to the Shriner’s Club Car Draw we’re doing at the end of the summer, which is for a 2013 Camaro.”
The free Summer Programs start July 9th.
“The thing we want to emphasize with our summer programs is that they are all free. Last year there were charges for some events or crafts – this year everything is free.”
The long list of programs includes a weekly storytime in a park – a different park every Friday morning – for 0-6 year-old age children.
On Wednesdays, marked in red on their calendars, they have special programs or guests.
“We’ve got a magic show, a mad scientist demonstration, and a family movie in our new library at the end of the summer.”
Teen programs include a DIY Cups and Cakes, which Stark is looking forward to.
“Do It Yourself Cups and Cakes – so they’ll get to build their own cupcakes, and there will be a station where they can decorate their own mugs. Should be a lot of fun.”
Details for all the summer programs, and the Summer Reading Club, are available on their website http:www.ocl.net/Brancheshours/Tillsonburg.
Or phone the Tillsonburg Public Library to talk to library staff (519-842-5571).
Start emphasize that while the starting day for the Summer Reading Club is June 24, participants do NOT have to come in that day.
“The reading contest starts on June 24th, but they can come in any day after that throughout the summer.”
The final day of the Summer Reading Club and programs is Friday, August 23rd.
Some of the ‘events’ have an open-ended name, like ‘Drop-in and Explore’ on Tuesdays.
“We’re going to be doing something different every week,” said Stark. “It could be a game, it could be an amazing race or scavenger hunt – something for all ages (up to 12).”
Stark, newly hired as a full-time program coordinator, is looking forward to offering local programming throughout the year.
“We will have storytimes for toddlers and pre-schoolers, and we want to expand it to offer a baby-specific program for 0-12 months. That really early stage.
“We also want to do more programming for school-age kids, especially on PA Days. We want to make them welcome in the library and offer them something relevant and fun.
“We’re also going to be offering a Teen Advisory Group. That’s going to be coming together over the summer, for our first meeting in September. We’re targeting ages 13-17.”
The Advisory Group, she said, will give teens ‘a say in the library.’
“We really want to make sure the teens are included in that… it’s a public library, for all the public.”
Input will be needed for their teen area in the renovated library.
“They’re going to help us choose furniture, choose what’s on the walls, and have some input on the materials we have for teens in the library – books, magazines, comics…”
There will also be an opportunity for the teens to help offer programs to the younger children, which will provide volunteer hours.
Stark, 30, currently lives in Dorchester but plans to move to Tillsonburg. She just came back to Ontario from a five-year stint where she was a children’s librarian in British Columbia.
“I really identify with life in a small town because that’s where I grew up. I had a lot of friends in Dorchester, and had positive experiences at their library, so I wanted to offer that to the people here in Tillsonburg too.
“I’m very much looking forward to getting to know the people who come into the library, and get to know other organizations in town who are also running programs, that we might overlap with or partner with.
“I really hope that people see me as the Friendly Library Lady,” she smiled, “and that people know that I’m around if they want to chat or have a suggestion for programs. I’m here in the library.”